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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



Digitized by the Internet Archive 
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SOCIAL EVILS 

THEIR CAUSE AND CURE. 



A POEM FOR THE TIMES 



BY THOMAS ASTLEFORD SHANE. 






Chicago : 

J jr^ The Western News Company, Publishers. 

^^" 1868. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year jP68, 

BY THOMAS ASTLEFORD SHANE, 

In the Clerk's Ofiice of the District Court for the Northern Bistrict of Ulaiiois. 






'X'- ^■ 



H. A. NEWCOMB & CO,., PRINTEKS, CHICAGOc 



To wfirn tlie soul of that eternal wreck, 
Which like some risen skeleton iinnerv'cl 

The mariner, who on the shattered deck 
Sought out, too late, the line from which he swerv''d. 

' To rouse man's conscience from its torpid bed, 
Forc'd to the lash of Truth's undaunted tone, 
And start the tear contrition's e^^es have shed 
On other cheeks, to trickle down his own. 

For this the Muse first lent her gen'rous song, 
Unaw'd she trode alone life's rugged stage, 

Slie sang of Virtue to the adult'rous throng, 
Eolian strains that swept through ev'ry age. 



T. A. S. 



SOCIAL EVILS. 



Beyond the restless seas, a little mound 
Lay bosomed on the smiling, fertile ground. 
Amidst tall, spreading trees, with beauteous forms, 
Unwarp'd by adverse winds, or fiercer storms, 
Hung 'round with clust'ring fruit of ev'ry hue, 
Each tint made softer by the gentle dew. 
Distilling nectar 'round each tiny bud 
Which deck'd the landscape of that virgin sod 
Where merry warblers carol'd forth their song. 
And balmy zephyrs bore their strains along 
Through secret sunny dells and shady nooks, 
By crystal rivulets and placid brooks, 
'Neath cloudless skies, all mantled o'er with blue. 
As ev'ning's lonely star appear'd in view. 
Far in the distant West, with princely prijJe, 
Young Sol stoop'd down, and almost side by side 
Sat with his fair young bride, sweet, blushing Earth, 
Reflecting his pure smile with holy mirth. 
Each woo'd the other, till the parting scene, 
Cast longing looks of equal love between. 



8 SOCIAL EVILS : 

Thus sank the Ruler of the gladsome day 

'Midst twilight scenes, 'neath cooling shades of gray, 

In sweet repose all nature sank to rest, 

And still were seen, reflected from the West, 

Upon her bosom rays of ling'ring light. 

Which chased the denser darkness of the night 

That gleam'd betimes, with magic spell around. 

To beautify and charm that sacred mound. 

Within it lay the fav'rite of the bow'rs. 

Enclosed by Nature's hand with rarest flow'rs. 

The blissful home of virtue chaste and fair. 

Exemplified in Eden's happy pair. 

Pure as those Angels bright, thatfan'd each frame. 

With wings of dazzling white, ends tipt with flame, 

Who hung above them, hover'd round their feet. 

Oft whisp'ring what they ought, and ought not eat. 

There, was the social circle undefil'd, 

There, lived a sinless woman unbeguil'd, 

Thei^e, stood a man with conscience pure as Heav'n, 

For God's own image to his soul was giv'n. 

Sweet Paradise, with all its shelt'ring vines. 
Was not secluded from the Tempter's lines. 
He travels swif!tly from the vaults of Hell, 
Full of his malice as the day he fell, 
And leaves his brimstone, as a dove the storm. 
Assumes by art a lit'ral serpent's form ; 
Walking through the garden spies gentle Eve, 
Pursues his deadly purpose to deceive 



CAUSE AND CURE. 

And lead her captive to the deptlis below, 

Where spirits damned were bound with chains of woe. 

All must admit each one is born in sin, 

A proud, deceitful heart has rule within, 

A perverse, iron will has full command, 

The Devil sways the sceptre with a hand 

Firm in his grasp, unyielding ev'ry hour. 

Fast holds the chain, by his usurping pow'r. 

Men speak of conscience as the faithful guide 

From wrong to right, while flows life's ebbing tide. 

Ah ! stifled monitor, made sit at ease. 

Mute as a rock, the pamper'd flesh to please. 

Long since grown blunt, long ceased to cut the heart. 

No longer quick to feel the lingering smart 

Inflicted by a trampled, broken law, 

Which once had fill'd thy soul with trembling awe ; 

Can virtue live within these lep'rous souls? 

As well expect a union of the poles. 

Is sexual intercourse a very sin ? 
Why plant that craving appetite within ? 
And why forbid that intercourse we love, 
Save on the terms transmitted from above ? 
Some argue thus, forgetting what they are. 
And wage 'gainst Heaven itself a life-long war. 
Hence clods of earth, form'd by the hand Divine, 
In darkest deeds with Devils damned combine. 
O libertine ! thou child of heli, take heed. 



10 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Recording Angels write thy every deed ; 

Those grov'ling thoughts, and loathsome henious lust 

Which fills the upright soul with deep disgust, 

Are scan'd by God's ail-searching eye of flame, 

Revolting scenes I cannot, dare not name. 

If bound for hell, 'tis manlier far to go. 

Alone, unmask'd, down to those depths of woe ; 

But O, 'tis cruel, fiendish, hellish hate. 

To drag a virgin to thy endless fate. 

Speak with thy accents sweet, young maiden fair^ 
Thou hast thy mission in this world of care ; 
Thy blushing cheeks, with rare celestial hue, 
Thy looks of love, and eyes of Heavenly blucj 
Melting in softest tenderness to win 
The giddy wanderers from paths of sin; 
Where is thy equal in creation's bounds ? 
O'er earth, in air, or in the planets' rounds ? 
All nature bovfs in rev'rance at thy shrine, 
And pays a homage bord'ring on divine. 

Who art thou ? Monster, fellow of yon beast, 
That gores his weaker victim, takes his feast, 
Then prowls around with whetted appetite 
To tear the next unfortunate in sight. 
I call thee brute, contaminated wretch, 
Whoever dares a lep'rous hand to stretch 
To Virtue's artless, unsuspecting child, 
'Round whom the social circle's hopes are piled, 



CAUSE AND CUEE. . 11 

And with infernal talons, black as hell, 
Drag to thy bosom, with a demon's yell. 
Appalling sight ! I turn mine eyes away, 
My weary feet alike refuse to stay, 
Or witness, horror struck, such scenes of vice. 
Where souls are barter'd for a silly price ; 
A moment's frantic pleasure, swiftly past. 
But O ! the pending doom, the withering blast ! 
Dread, final choice, of an immortal soul, 
To writhe with pain while countless ages roll. 

Another glance through this corrupted world, 
Detects with ease the whorish flag unfurl'd 
O'er perfect little miniatures of hell. 
Save the loud shriek of the undying wail, 
Yon fallen women, 'neath the common tread, 
For young and old their gaudy nets are spread. 
Alas ! how few escape their dangling snares 
And leave unvisited those public lairs ? 
Those odious sepulchres, where shame expires. 
And burning lust each soul and body fires. 
Amen, the millions cry, let them abound. 
And with the best success be ever crown'd ! 
Tea, let them lurk about each busy street. 
And seldom found, if ever, off the beat ! 
We fallen men have power to make the laws 
To suit ourselves, regardless of the flaws ! 
Protection they must have, their homes we'll keep^ 
Though virtues languish and good angels weep ! 



12 SOCIAL evils: 

Perplexing thought ! I shudder while I think 
Will this great, leading country, rise or sink ? 
Modern Sodom, a vile Gomorrah, too, 
There may be, peradventure, found a few, 
Who, off 'ring up the one continuous prayer : 
Spare, mighty God ! this erring nation spare ! 
And bending to the suppliant's urged request. 
The lowering clouds may pass, and man be blest. 

Where is the Social Evil to be found? 

It must exist beyond mere neutral ground — 

Does it appear at all? where can we find 

The faintest trace it may have left behind? 

Who forced that whore from virtue's paths to stray ? 

Why still pursue her dark frequented way ? 

Had she no will unfetter'd ? Every hour 

Free will she had, but used that dreadful pow'r 

To urge her flight down to that lusty feast 

Where she is trampled as the common beast ! 

If forced by brutal pow'r to meet that fate. 

Instead of love, a fix'd internal hate 

Would in her bosom nestle towards that wretch. 

Who did a traitor's stifled conscience stretch, 

And, conscious of her innocence outraged. 

Pursue that war against such villains waged. 

Deception cruel, destroyer of our race, 
Few. know the unmask'd features of thy face. 
In costly halls of marble thou art found. 



CAUSE AND CUKE. 13 

In squatters' shanties, strewM o'er prairie ground ; 

Of rich and poor, of old and young the guest, 

And truly called the stalking social pest. 

Who can discern those inmost thoughts that float 

Along the regions of my mind, or note 

The secret purpose of my whole design, 

Yea, every intent of my heart define ? 

The flatterer 'till then may be the guest 

Of one whose future life seems truly blest. 

Ah ! spotless virgin ! full of girlish glee. 

If thou could'st know the scenes that wait for thee 

Stereotyped, glance at thy broken heart. 

And see thy suitor play his treach'rous part, 

Then should far ling'riiig vengeance come with speed. 

And prove the best of friends — " a friend in need." 

O, woman ! whose eternal future fate 

Depends on character you here create, 

A word in season, let it come with power. 

Perchance 't will guide you in the trying hour : 

I care not how degraded man may be. 

Dead to all virtue, filled with infamy. 

Like upright man when he desires a wife — - 

A social partner for the whole of life — 

He longs for virtue, pinnacled on high, 

Beyond the touch of ev'ry passer by. 

And virtue he must have at any price— 

The snow-white innocence without disguise. 

He sees her yonder, every feature beams. 



14 SOCIAL evils: 

Reflecting back the angel of his dreams. 
Hark ! how he listens to her accents sweet ! 
Behold the suppliant at his ideal's feet — 
What is his object now- — why so adore ? 
To brand her as those thoughtless maids before? 
I bluntly answer, No; his heart won't yield, 
But prove a mighty, ever active shield. 
To guard that virtue, as a pearl divine, 
And lead it glitt'ring to the marriage shrine. 

Yon coiling serpent, in that case of glass. 
Attracts the playful children as they pass. 
See how they gather 'round with eager gaze. 
Each tries in turn the bolted door to raise ; 
One self-willed child, despite the serpent's hiss, 
Breaks through the glass, that she may fondle, kiss 
And hug what seems to her a harmless thing, 
Too gay, too nice, t' impart a deadly sting. 
Such is the w^oman, lacks discerning skill. 
Her wooer's beauty quite controls her will ; 
He hisses once, but she no notice takes ; 
He bites, he flies — alas ! too late she wakes ! 

Were I a lady, w^ith good common sense. 
And loved a man, yea, ever so intense, 
Let him with cautious, trembling accents speak 
But one low word to crimson up my cheek. 
With madden'd fury from my seat I'd start, 
And with my pistol tight upon his heart. 



CAUSE AND CURE. 15 

Drive the black fiend from thence with steady aim, 
To try his schemes on some less cautious dame ! 

I change the scene, the spirit of my muse, 
To draw from social hfe some kindred views ; 
And w^hile with careful glance I scan the field, 
My venturing soul cries out, I yield! I yield ! 
Too much the task, I find, each patent wrong 
Description baffles from a seraph's tongue ; 
Yet op'ning vistas tempt me to unfold 
A millionth part of what might well be told. 
That " ignorance is bliss," 'tis sometimes said — 
Without a cause to fear we have no dread — 
Hence, many thousand ardent, loving wives, 
Never beyond that ignorance arrives. 
Angelic husbands theirs, who never fell 
A victim to a whorish woman's spell. 
Some other wives, not quite so green as they. 
Will view things in a more impartial way ; 
Nay, more, each one will feel her hollow bliss. 
And trembling take her Judas husband's kiss. 
'Tis servile fear to dread a husband's frown, 
And worse than death — the partner of a clown — 
Who leaves his home, his wife, his children fair. 
To find his pleasure in yon filthy lair ; 
Then hastens back, red hot with just disease, 
A flat'rer's tongue, and lips of lying pleas. 
With his poor wife his lep'rous gift to share, 
And shroud that pining wife in black despair. 



16 SOCIAL evils: 

Such is a life with thousands whom you meet 

At home, in church, and in the busy street. 

They speak, they smile, and love Hghts up their eyes. 

But ah ! behind the curtain in disguise 

Lie broken hearts, and blighted hopes quite dead, 

With burning tears at silent midnight shed. 

Some speak of fallen men, and they do well, 

But can man fall as woman falls — who'll tell ? 

How far, when trac'd in crime, they both agree 

Whether the twain be one in harmony. 

Come, single out a man who ever did 

A harlot at the sacred aftar wed — 

I mean a man of sense, that's not insane, 

With perfect knowledge of her hateful stain. 

But many a woman, yea, thousands, too, 

Think men can't fall, as silly women do ; 

At least they wink at the seducer's life. 

And gladly stoop to be his slighted wife. 

Through every avenue of life there flows 
Temptation's tide, with its attendant woes. 
No one can claim exemption from its pow'r, 
And chase away the dark and trying hour. 
Human nature is the same, wide world o'er, 
And married ladies fall as heretofore ; 
And though we have our Ammon's at this day, 
Some wives of Potiphar are kept at bay, 
By modest Joseph's having self command 
To loose the grasp, and leaving in their hand 



CAUSE AND CURE. 17 

The tatter'd garments, with haste they flee, 
"Waving their fav'rite banner — purity. 

Where no temptation is men seldom stray ; 
Yon lady fair won't turn her eyes away— 
(Bewitching eyes !) reflecting tenderness. 
Her smiles are sweet, her very looks caress. 
What can I do ? O, nature ! lend your aid ; 
'Tis sweet to yield, yet I am sore afraid — 
Not of her husband, he is far from home ; 
Not of my friends, but of a future doom. 
O, that I had the pow'r of self-control. 
Subject this body to my inmost soul. 
Methinks my better nature would suggest : 
Her free advances scorn, and stand the test. 
Why won't she turn those soft blue eyes away ? 
Why such emotions, fraught with lust, betray ? 
Had she been faithful to her marriage vow, 
I should have no temptation here, I trow ; 
Ofler no self-defence, no vain excuse, 
Fit subject for thy merited abuse : 
Thou vile, degraded woman ! far below 
The limits where a fallen maid can go. 
Speak from thy depths below, and trembling tell 
The fatal moment when at first you fell. 
Alas ! too true, the mystery is solved. 
And ev'ry married whore alike involved ; 
On harlot seas your bark was seen to glide, 
'Neath virtue's flag, before you were a bride I 
2 



18 SOCIAL evils: 

To view the late black catalogue of crime, 

Recording angels penned in this our time ; 

'Twould almost fill you with a deep distrust, 

Suspicious thoughts, each pregnant with disgust. 

Behold yon woman, miserable sight. 

In doleful darkness wrapt, no ray of light ; 

In folly's paths betimes she loved to stray. 

To libertines a bait, an easy prey. 

But O, her conscience wakes in this dark hour, 

Lashes her soul with all its fiery pow'r, 

Sends pangs of pending horror through her breast. 

And the undying worm becomes her guest. 

Horror on horror piled within her heart. 

Intruding mem'ry, playing well its part, 

Revealing scenes as they had once transpired, 

In by-gone days, when lust her body fired. 

Well may her ghastly looks betray the deed; 

Avenging bullets fly with deadly speed. 

Her outraged husband's hands are steep'd in blood, 

And her foul paramour before his God ! 

Sad tale to learn, that she should do amiss. 

Take from his poisoned lips the fatal kiss. 

Repeat the charm, to her seducer cling. 

Till led within that strange, enchanting ring. 

From which no female 'scapes. 'Twas in that hour 

Expiring virtue groaned beneath its pow'r. 

Prevent this evil — 'tis the only cure — 
Temptations reach the purest of the pure. 



CAUSE AND CURE. 19 

Yon blush, fair ladies, at my gentle bints, 
And fiery indignation leaves its tints 
Upon your crimsoned face, because I dare 
Insinuations broach, and not forbear. 
And there may yet be found another few 
Whose cheeks are colored with a deeper hue-— 
Not flushed with idle warnings at them cast. 
But from the reminiscence of the past. 
An undue pressure of the hand may tend 
To wake a dormant thought within thy friend — 
A thought which may a bad idea start, 
Away far down in regions of the heart, 
Which shall e'er long with fiery action swell — 
Ignited here, but burns to lowest hell. 

Ah ! many a wife with fair virtue's blush, 
The loveliest subject for a Land seer's brush, 
With beauteous form, affections all entwin'd 
Around one man — a husband to her mind — 
Whose ev'ry thought was pure, and conduct such 
As well defied the scorner's heartless touch, 
Became the victim of some selfish fiend — 
And why ? Because on her own strength she lean'd ! 
For when her fascinator talk'd and talk'd. 
And unmask'd danger 'round her spirit stalk'd, 
She smil'd and smil'd, nor seem'd to think it wrong 
Those smiles to give, and interviews prolong ; 
Thus fed the worm that at her vitals gnaw'd. 
And not till robb'd did she detect the fraud ! 



20 SOCIAL evils: 

O, Beauty ! shall the sin be trac'd to thee ? 

To all the avenues of lust the key — 

Or shall we style thee loveliest gift of Heav'n, 

Charm of the earth, most welcome blessing giv'n ? 

Theme of our thoughts, our whole desires aim 

Attractive more than pinnacles of fame. 

Stern Infidels to thee their homage pay, 

And worthy Christians woo thee night and day. 

'Tis sweet to see thy smile upon the rose. 

When fresh with blooming youth it softly glows. 

But sweeter far when glowing on the cheek 

Of yonder lov'd one, whom I truly seek 

As the sole winning partner of my life. 

My brightest angel, youthful, blushing wife. 

Beauty, like virtue, is possessed by few. 
Though claimed by most as their deserving due ; 
Still cool, deliberating, nasty men. 
Will turn away with impudent disdain. 
Pronounce that lady ugly, when she knows 
Her face is lovelier than the budding^rose. 
No matter, dear, they have the right to judge, 
Those rights to them you never ought to grudge ; 
'Tis Heav'n's appointment and its firm decree. 
That man should have his choice and liberty. 
Old maid ! you whisper, with a sighing breath, 
Dread of my life ! O sooner give me death ! 

This dread of single life takes active part 
In every wild sensation of the heart, 



CAUSE AND CUEE. 21 

And seems to drive ahead each artful scheme 

To gain the long-sought object of its theme. 

The thoughts of marriage with young ladies seem 

To be both day and night a ceaseless dream, 

And lest young men should e'er by some ill-chance 

Forget their duty, quickly to advance 

And pop the question straight, they deem it best 

To ask themselves, and thus their candor test. 

Alas for dignity ! that giant power, 

A woman's safeguard in the trying hour ; 

Like Sampson's locks, if from the head 'tis shorn. 

Her strength will fail, but not like his, return. 

Men are by nature crafty, wild and shrewd. 

They love to woo themselves, but won't be woo'd ; 

We think our reasoning sound when we suppose 

Young men that weakness know, and soon disclose 

Some propositions, based on slipp'ry ground, 

Which, when complied with, give a deadly wound. 

How close the flood-gates of such henious sin ? 
Where shall the o-reat reforming!; work be^in ? 
I answer, with the Mothers of our land, 
Assisted by the law's avenging hand. 
Not law that winks at houses of ill-fame. 
Nor cares the erring sexes to reclaim ; 
Is dormant ever till some funds are low. 
Then visits suddenly those haunts of woe, 
Drags from their public scenes each ruffian there, 
Filled with a momentary wild despair, 



22 SOCIAL evils: 

To city halls they form a martial line, 
Convicted next, and then flings out the fine. 
Not law protecting " lager beer " saloons, 
Where ev'ry living virtue starts and swoons, 
Allows them Sunday to augment their gains. 
By liquor traffic, which that day profanes. 

Will female suffrage every wrong adjust, 

And stop the current of each damning lust ? 

Enact such laws as terrify the heart, 

And horror send, as an electric dart, 

To thrill the soul, and nip each budding ill, 

Dare hellish acts and bend the stubborn will — 

Sheer nonsense ! nothing more than shallow thought. 

Those airy castles, value not a groat. 

Come nearer home, forget your fav'rite pleas. 
And thoroughly account for the disease. 
You've seen the spider's web Avhere flies resort, 
Attractive meshes, beautifully wrought ; 
Those playful insects, seeking pleasure round. 
Attempt a passage through, get firmly bound ; 
The moment's struggle, and a dread suspense 
The spider quickly ends with pain intense. 
You know the moral: Females weave the snare. 
Where'er you turn you meet the tempting glare, 
And like the spider's prompt and deadly goad. 
They clamor for their silly victim's blood. 



i 



CAUSE AND CURE. 23 

What country hath not felt the curse of war? 

Its desolations visit every shore. 

O'er young Columbia's proud land there flow'd 

The crimson tide of their own children's blood, 

Pealed in our midst the angry cannon's roar. 

Defending liberty like days of yore. 

Young men grew reckless in the battle field. 

They thought of nothing save the sword and shield, 

A human life seem'd nothing in their eyes, 

Estranged from ev'ry claim of nature's ties ; 

Hence lost to feeling, virtue almost sank 

In ev'ry soldier's heart, through ev'ry rank ; 

And now those thousands, steep'd in unknown crimes. 

Move, unreclaimed, at will in these our times. 

The whole clairvoyant world our soldiers scann'd. 

Depicted outrage, ravishing the land ; 

Saw from afar the quiv'ring arrow plum'd. 

Our wives and daughters, aye, and sisters doomed. 

'Twas all a myth, a day-dream of the brain. 

Returning soldiers prov'd such reasoning vain. 

'Twas pious mothers, yea, and sisters, too. 

Did the reforming task of love pursue. 

With what effect th' astonished country knows. 

The boast of friends and envy of our foes. 

The war has ceased, those years of suff 'ring fled. 
The burning embers of rebellion dead ; 
Yet mem'ry lives, we can't forget the past. 



24 ' SOCIAL evils: 

When 'midst the din of war we stood aghast. 
O, catalogue of crime ! but faintly given, 
Stretching beyond the earth to far off Heav'n, 
Calls loud for vengeance on each rebel State, 
Which did the long, disastrous war create. 
What wonder if the curse of Cain were found 
To fly through space and smite the fertile ground, 
T' avenge their brothers' blood's incessant cry, 
By angels wafted to the list'ning sky ! 

Oh, trace the generations past and gone, 
When Afric's hardy sons were looked upon 
As less than human, little more than apes, 
Lash'd with the tyrant's thongs in cruel shapes. 
Yet God kept silence through those dreary years, 
As if regardless of their hopes and fears ; 
The stream of time still bore them to their graves- 
Cold hour of death ! 'twas mercy to the slaves. 
But God's omniscient eye through all survey'd 
Their brutal acts, while vengeance was delay'd. 
And in due time no longer silence kept, 
But from the mounts of vice each planter swept 
By Lincoln's hand, the Moses of our time. 
Whose ev^y act was noble and sublime. 
Transcending far our highest hopes of man. 
By God raised up to work His gracious plan. 
If on our Johnson his blest mantle fell, 
Methinks I hear the angels say, 'twere well ! 
The red hot murderers would not go free, 



CAUSE AND CUEE. . 25 

In spite of law fram'd by the Deity. 
Still in the Presidential chair he'll sit 
A modern Joshua— nay, his counterfeit — 
To give yon harden'd Pharaoh pow'r to go, 
Along Avith crafty Satan, to and fro. 
Outside our country's reach, accepting bail 
As just equivalent to rope or jail. 
If once again the hooted tour he'll brave, 
To shed a traitor's tear o'er Lincoln's grave, 
We say, tread softly o'er the sacred sod, 
Thou non-avenger of the martyr's blood ! 
Again we say, tread softly, lest he feel 
The impress of a traitor's restless heel, 
And waking up with one heroic shout, 
The whited sepulchre turn inside out, 
That gazing millions may at last behold 
In sheepskin clothed a wolf within the fold. 

Are those not evils of the deepest dye, 

Which statesmen's concentrated skill defy ? 

How came our country's pests to have such pow'r ? 

Why spared was Judas till his fatal hour ? 

Deception's bolts forever have been hurl'd 

At virtue's heart since first it curst the world. 

Why did our orators to London go. 

City of wealth, our formidable foe, 

Address John Bull with magic force and skill. 

And to their politics bend down his will ; 

In crowded halls did freedom's banner wave 



26 SOCIAL EYILS: 

O'er thousands sighing for the negro slave ; 

Returning home with fame's fair laurel'd brow, 

And popular as Harriet Beecher Stowe, 

On freedom's theme, the exile captive's cause, 

Which startled hell and made the world to pause. 

Continued still to press their righteous suit, 

To pluck up destined slavery by the root. 

The point was gained, Ham's progeny set free. 

The universal song of liberty 

Burst forth from ev'ry tongue, transcending thought 

That glorious victory Jehovah wrought. 

Ah ! tell me not their eloquence was turn'd. 

The Freedman's rights opposed and progress spurn'd 

By that same pen which wrote in lofty strains 

That now seems guided by half-idiot brains. 

What! keep God's poor as pilgrims forty years. 

With bleeding wounds and gushing, burning tears, 

Not knowing whether led by God's own hand. 

Or driven by Pharaoh through the desert sand. 

What is't you say ? thou libertine who nears 

With furrow'd cheek, the lapse of seventy years. 

You ask what negro liberty hath done 

To chase away existing social wrong. 

What mean mulatto faces? whence sprung they? 

Reveal their secret origin, I pray. 

With snow-white locks and guilty lips you tell, 

While unconcerned you near the brink of hell. 

Could mortals read hell's babbling dialect, 



CAUSE AND CURE. 27 

Its darkened annals should e'er long reflect, 

From dreary chambers 'midst the haunts of woe, 

Tho^e hidden secrets chronicled below. 

How virtue liy'd in Southern States I guess, 

Nor need I ask of formal witnesses ; 

Read there depicted in yon mother's face. 

Cold, sorrow's gloom, the offspring of disgrace — 

Not her's, for if 'twere so her harlot brand 

Would find its impress by a husband's hand. 

Alas ! alas ! her hopes are all forlorn. 

For in her house a colored child is born, 

Half black, half white, what means so strange a freak ? 

No words we hear, her gestures amply speak, 

Meanwhile her husband's oaths in volleys light 

Upon some unknown scamp, an ill-bred white. 

Slave after slave gives bh'th to little folks. 

And every neighbor 'round cracks out his jokes. 

As more than negro blood rush through their veins^ 

No just conclusion but the one remains. 

A few more years and in yon auction sale, 

To Heav'n those children send a dismal wail, 

No pity for his offspring sold hath he, 

His curst-acquired gain their misery. 

Begone, sad thought, no longer with us clash,. 
No colored female bears the tyrant's lash, 
The law's strong arm acknowledges her claim 
To human rights, both black and white the same. 



28 SOCIAL EYILS : 

Champions of liberty our pulpits stood, 
Their maxim — check the evil in the bud ; 
The youth preserve in wisdom's pleasant way, 
Nor let them from those paths of virtue stray. 
If Gabriel spoke with his angelic strains. 
From ev'ry Christian pulpit on our plains, 
So long as members of each church should hear, 
Let fall, at times, the penitential tear. 
And home return to follow in that wake, 
Which now they vow forever to forsake, 
The church will have no spiritual pow'r. 
Nor need expect a Pentecostal show'r. 

Pause inward, wealthy Christian, no disguise 

Allow to close thy penetrating eyes ; 

Look o'er thy days, count up v^hat thou hast done, 

And tell the number of those souls you won 

From slipp'ry paths that lead to sin and shame, 

Desertion, misery and endless pain. 

Thy easy conscience seems at perfect rest, 

With pleasing retrospection thou art blest ; 

Pray tell me, worthy frien'd, with plainness tell, 

How you've performed your noble part so well. 

To build yon church subscriptions large you gave — 

A noble act, 'twas generous and brave — 

You told the hardened sinner (and 'twas well) 

Of Heav'ji's glories and the pangs of hell. 

With tears, entreaties, urged them to def)art 

From folly's ways, to choose the better part ; 



CAUSE AND CURE. • 29 

That Pharisee who in the temple pray'd, 

Raised not in mortal's view a holier head 

For those who languish on their dying bed. 

On whom the icy hand of death is laid, 

For all who feel the mighty Tempter's pow'r, 

And languish in the painful, trying hour ; 

For all the fatherless, and widows, too. 

For ev'ry stiff-necked, unconverted Jew, 

For all the poor who need the common bread. 

From day to day by public bounties fed. 

He ever prays, with all his spirit's might. 

But while he prays his hands are pressing tight 

On ev'ry grain of gold within his grasp, 

Still holding firm with a tenacious clasp. 

Ah! good Samaritan, methinks if thou 

Hadst journeyed down to ancient Jericho, 

A sad mistake, yea, fatal 'twould have been 

Thy brains had made, for angels would have seen 

Thy prayerful form hung o'er the dying man. 

And stay'd their flight to sketch thy wond'rous plan — 

The substituting for the oil and w^ine 

A mocking prayer before Jehovah's shrine ! 

Thou hypocrite ! the church subscription's sum 

A reputation for its donor won ; 

Thy credit strengthened and fresh vigor sent 

To give thy business forces greater vent* 

Far o'er the land, as odors in the breeze, 

Flash'd thy great name, like lightning thro' the trees; 



30 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Such novel swindles have become of late 
Best advertishig mediums in the State. 

A concourse once of sinners Christ address'd, 
As round him in the desert waste they press'd ; 
The Master knew what compound beings were, 
And left them not to feed on empty air. 
But our good Christian, subject of our theme, 
Forgets that man a body has, 'twould seem, 
Hence should a dying saint gasp still for bread. 
Our Pharisee would preach him Christ instead. 

Within the pale of many a church there rests 
Some wealthy members, feath'ring well their nests, 
And " faring sumptuously " every day, 
No self-denials cross their narrow way. 
They often speak to Lazarus in the church, 
But if outside, will leave him in the lurch ; 
Subscriptions to the poor can't understand. 
Committees only, or the Pastor's hand, 
May such donations find, if they express 
Their grateful feelings thro' the public press ; 
A timely aid seems foreign to their mind. 
Their guiding maxim never help mankind 
Until they're pauperized beneath our feet, 
And crying daily for our crumbs to eat. 
Ah ! haughty Dives, sooner far find out 
Where will-be paupers struggle without doubt, 
^Gainst adverse circumstances, past control, 



CAUSE AND CURE. 31 

Which unforseen upon their pathway stole ; 
Go help them now, little will end the strife — 
If once they fall, that fall may be for life. 

Come, princely merchant, heir to fortune's smile, 
Together let us gravely talk awhile. 
Of one whose hist'ry I shall now relate, 
Which unknown thousands, too, shall personate : 

Upon a certain day, when thoughts aspir'd. 
And thirst for honest wealth ambition fir'd 
Within my peaceful breast, where virtue 'bode. 
And bliss-inspiring thoughts with freshness glow'd. 
My blissful home I left, where I was blest 
With parents kind, of Christian love possess'd, 
Arriving in my destined city found 
A stranger's home, with friendless faces 'round. 
Thought I, to church I'll go and there shall meet 
Those Christian friends, who shall the stranger greet. 
That Sabbath pass'd without much formal glee. 
Both church and Sabbath school were mute to me. 
Next morning, hurrying with a blunt request. 
Thought I, some lib'ral Christian league I'll test ; 
A minister I saw, handed him the note. 
Containing what my former pastor wrote. 
Which certified that Horace L. E. Birch 

Was member of the church. 

A long, long list of names he handed me 
Of pious merchants I should call and see. 



32 SOCIAL EVILS : 

High hopes which burn'd, ambition's flame rose high, 
No young American was pleased as I ! 

(Ah, spectral mirage ! wizard of the world ! 
How soon o'er me thy banner was nnfurl'd; 
Gleaming in the distance, smiled ev'ry hue, 
Chased it for a moment, then lost to view.) 

Day after day each begged to be excused, 

Called me brother, but still my plea refused. 

Try again, try again, still fili'd my ears, 

Th' " importunate widow's " prayer calmed my fears ; 

And if an unjust judge avenged, thought I, 

That feeble woman's weak, incessant cry. 

Shall not those Christians whom the Lord hath bless'd. 

For mercy's sake fullill my small request? 

Vain was my reas'ning, despair closed me 'round, 

Satan's agents smil'd and church members frown'd. 

Launch out my little bark into the deep. 
Be dried mine eyes, no longer giv'n to weep ; 
I hunger, thirst, and feel the pangs of want. 
From day to day my fallen spirits haunt. 
Such were my feelings, quickly put in force. 
Compelled to starve or else adopt this course : 
As tender to a bar in yon saloon. 
Where ev'ry inmate swiftly glides to ruin. 
Myself engaged, though sore against my will. 
And tried its damning duties to fulfill. 



CAUSE AND CURE. . 33 

Farewell to clmrcli, aye, and conscience, too, 
All cherished hopes of Heav'n I bid adieu ; 
Retain a consciousness of sins forgiven ? 
As soon expect the Devil raised to Heaven ! 

'Twixt two opinions held, and tempest toss'd, 

Alas ! I found the boundary line was cross'd ; 

Away flew virtue, giving place to vice, 

In which I deeply plunged without disguise. 

The world will love its own, the Master said. 

This buoy'd me up when Christian hope was dead ; 

"NoY did it prove an ignis fatuus glare, 

Like church-built hopes, expiring in despair. 

Clerks from the stores of merchants on that list, 
(Th' employ of whom reluctantly I missed,) 
Night after night their leisure hours were spent, 
Gambling, drinking, swearing to heart's content. 

Some were employed by righteous brother B , 

A praying merchant and a church trustee. 
Why keep those men that ev'ry good ignores ? 
The secret is, they bring the trade of whores! 

Others there were engaged at wholesale trade, 
Whose sinful wages did employers aid ; 
Their business was to hang 'round ev'ry night, 
And get what vulgar people call half tight ! 
Learn at hotels each country trader's name, 
Prepare their baits to catch the hunted game, 
3 



34 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Get introducedj supply the choicest drink. 
Their point to gain from no expense they shrink, 
Nor leave their presence till they hook them, in. 
Their confidence attract, and fully win. 
Next comes the sale, to which they're well inured. 
Followed by the greenbacks wisely secured. 
Merchants part those drunkards, think you they will ? 
Never, never, while they their coffers fill. 

Such is the testimony of a man 
Whose thoughts were pure when his career began ; 
In public life, where struggling for the right, 
Repulsive Christians changed his future fate. 

Reader, it matters not whoe'er you be. 
On this fix'd point alike we both agree : 
If so-called evil does exist at all. 
And Christian warriors weave its fun'ral pall. 
Such Christless counterfeits more havoc do 
To virtue's cause, than those who vice pursue. 

This world is disarranged, none can dispute 
The fact, societies of good repute, 
Arrayed against Satanic clubs appear, 
Sometimes of vict'ry sing, sometimes of fear. 
But still how few are found entirely free 
From that old-harbor'd wretch, hypocrisy ! 
If on this earth perfection may be found, 
'Tis w^hen some Quaker principles are bound 



CAUSE AND CURE. 35 

Tight 'round the heart of ev'ry church we know, 

Whose watchword ever is, Tread down the foe ! 

These friends around each other's interests cling, 

Their hearts are merry, though they will not sing. 

Fierce, adverse winds may blow on some frail bark, 

The voyage dreary, and the line grow dark 

O'er life's great ocean, where each trav'ler glides 

With rapid motion o'er its foaming tides ; 

But still he knows, should shipwreck prove his fate, 

His brother Quakers will well compensate 

His total loss, not leave him pining there, 

A pauper victim to a wild despair. 

Freemasons, too, their timely presents yield. 

Their sick to comfort and their poor to shield ; 

But Christian temples, ah ! the chilly void — 

That yawning gulf where thousands are destroy'd — 

Lurking within their pale, that chasm, I ween, 

Has representing hell for ages been. 

That chaos can be filled up only when 

You love the bodies as the souls of men. 

Were this a world of disembodied souls. 

And ev'ry evil present that controls 

The human mind, exert their influence still, 

Each passion foster and pervert the will. 

Then would our present church discipline be 

Of what they'd need — a iruefac simile. 

Wake up, O slumb'ring Christian ! though so late, 
Prompt action now may change thy pending fate; 



36 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Know thou that all the wealth you here possess 
Your transient life may curse instead of bless ; 
God only lends the riches he has sent, 
That to His glory they may all be spent ; 
Withhold them, then, and sure as you withhold, 
Thy gain will prove a snare, a curse thy gold ; 
We call wealth here a blessing when 'tis sent. 
Its absence sometimes causes discontent ; 
O'er all the world, alas ! how few believe 
" More blessed 'tis to give than to receive." 

Christian of wealth, you have a work to do, 
Where'er you turn thy mission is in view. 
Lo, there's a brother plunged in deep distress, 
The pinching arms of want around him press, 
High Heaven intends those wants you should relieve. 
That from your hands his pittance may receive. 
Behold yon maiden, young she is and fair. 
Upon her brow the curving lines of care 
Are faintly drawn by sorrow's heavy hand, 
Her footsteps clinging to the sinking sand 
On which her hopes were piled, forlorn hopes^ 
Flung heartless down o'er yonder icy slopes 
Of confidence misplaced, yea, placed in one 
Whose acts frustrated ev'ry virtuous plan ; 
Removed far distant from the hated scenes, 
She loves each low'ring cloud that intervenes 
'Twixt haunted mem'ry and her loved abode, 
Where sorrowing friends have written " Ichabod.'* 



( 



CAUSE AND CURE. 37 

See, there she stands, no home, no work to do, 

No flatt'ring prospects burst upon her view ; 

Look close, for there comes Satan's agents 'round— 

Those hissing serpents crawl upon the ground ; 

See there, in person of a wealthy wretch. 

The Devil dares his golden hand to stretch 

To that fair child, who trembles at his gaze, ^ 

With that amount which he for virtue pays. 

Get closer still — why do the angels stare. 

Above, beneath, all through the balmy air ? 

What means that bright one hanging o'er her frame ? 

Hark, how he whispers, listen to his strain 

Of Heavenly music bursting on the ear: 

Trust in thy God, be hush'd thy needless fear, 

Dread silence keep, list to the voice within, 

To thy own soul it speaks no flattering ; 

Obedient to its prompting influence there, 

Go snatch that sister from the tempter's snare, 

A home provide her, and a good one, too, 

'Tis for that purpose God hath lent to you 

A heritage so large that as his steward. 

You ever may with Christian skill afford 

To all his heirs employ, nor ever dare 

With Belial's sons his children's bread to share. 

I cannot pass the widow's sacred plea, 
That heav'n-taught object first of charity. 
Her million claims humanity can't trace. 
Nor pierce the surface of her dismal case ; 



38 SOCIAL evils: 

To tempt my willing pen the orphans fail, 

I could not paint a human cheek so pale 

As theirs, whose haggard looks must pity wake, 

And every unshed tear in nature shake. 

What social evils must our earth overrun 

If mercy's works shall still be left undone ; 

The solemn vow, the best intention, too. 

Left unperformed, will never bear you through 

Life's vast devolving duties, without shame, 

And save the tongue that made them, from the flame 

Of hell beneath, where dwells material fires. 

The way to which is paved with good desires ; 

Thou heartless Christian, blind to their distress, 

Account to God — they are the witnesses ! 

No faithful church on earth ! Strange words are those, 

Whence is their origin, from friends or foes ? 

Perhaps from both the startling sounds are sent, 

Their narrow limits leap'd, and must have vent. 

There is a church where Christians may abide, 

'Tis visible on earth, the Saviour's bride ; 

Where is it found ? — still echo answers, Where ? 

Hark ! floating on the dewy midnight air, 

A whisper more than human greets the ear. 

And lo ! upon the Christian's face a tear. 

Accompanied by accents mild and sweet. 

By angels wafted from the mercy-seat: 

Go tell yon monarch on his haughty throne. 



CAUSE AND CUBE. 39 

That captive exile in the dungeon thrown, 

The scholar pinnacled on learning's spire, 

That untaught savage in his native mire, 

The man of wealth 'midst glitt'ring piles of gold, 

That mendicant who thrilling woes unfold. 

The healthy man who never feels disease, 

That sickly mortal wasting by degrees. 

Yon wrinkled veteran with hoary hairs. 

That tiny stripling, child of tender years, 

The trusting saint, whose joys shall never fail, 

That prejudiced, imthinking Infidel, 

And ev'ry one who either smiles or groans. 

Between the torrid and the frigid zones, — 

The Church of Christ is not those courtly halls 

Of brick or marble, stone or jasper walls, 

In which the saint or sinner does appear. 

To pay their formal homage year by year ; 

Nor is its confines found with any sect. 

Its bounds defined by human intellect. 

Eternity with God, must all allow. 

Past, present, future, one eternal now. 

His eye of flame beholds the secret thought, 

With blessings laden or with evil fraught ; 

He sees His own, and numbers every hair. 

Forever shielded by His guardian care. 

Within their souls his spirit does abide. 

The heirs-elect of Heav'n, God's sanctified. 



40 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Of such consist the Church of Christ on earth, 

Those genuine subjects of the second birth ; 

Dethrone that Church, prevent its future reign, 

Morals of Infidehty maintain, 

Through all the earth their wonted influence sway, 

According to their rules of equity. 

Then bid adieu to all that's pure and wise, 

To ev'ry virtue 'neath th' astonished skies ; 

Deserted wives and violated maids, 

Through all the world the most infernal raids 

That ever curs'd the quiet, social life, 

Since good and evil waged their endless strife ; 

Their daring deeds of darkness none can tell. 

Until they read the chronicles of hell. 

Should atheists deem the Avait too long, perchance. 

An ancient hist'ry of Imperial France 

Might come within their reach, that they may read 

Of kindred deeds — " No God," their damning creed. 

The glorious Church on earth can never fail. 

Though all the muster'd hosts of hell assail, 

Its mighty bulwarks and foundations test 

That Rock of Ages, sure, on which we rest ; 

Legible in her light so widely shed. 

Through darkest clouds she moves, no fear, no dread, 

Pursues her noble mission's glorious end. 

To which the earth and pow'rs of darkness bend 

With forced submission, 'neath the Gospel's sway, 

Through hill and dale, and o'er the laughing spray. 



CAUSE AND CUKE, 41 

Next to the Church, we readily confess, 
As moral champion, ought to stand the Press, 
Urging its conquests, battling day and night. 
Quitting not its hold, fighting for the right. 
Yet folhes lead the way while virtues quake, 
As million journals journey in its wake, 
Regardless of the pressing moral claims 
Upon their aid, the Christian world maintains. 
And where they'll end high Heav'n only knows — 
Demi-Satanic organs, worst of foes ! 

Unfit for publication — strange words are these. 

Some editors their tickled millions tease 

With that perplexing sentence, like some dream 

Of wealth acquired upon life's gliding stream, 

Which gaily flaunted till the dupe awoke, 

As dreamland vanished and the bubble broke. 

'Tis floating on the surface of the mind. 

From year to year those haunting words we find. 

Not in our journals, blushing we confess, 

They're seldom printed in the daily press. 

What ! moral poison to my children give. 

And still expect those murder'd souls to live ? 

Such thoughts must spring from brains diseased, where 

mind 
With all its energies and skill combined 
Can't reproduce — once grand ideas, sane, 
Or moral order constantly maintain. 



42 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Give not thy offspring issues of our times, 
With pregnant details of those sexual crimes, 
For which our country's famed — ah, heinous fame^ 
Peculiar to our land, this brand of shame ! 
Such language is unfit for aged men. 
Too vile to tempt a sage historian's pen, 
Offensive to the judge and jury's ears, 
But shocking sight when it in print appears. 
In yonder stripling's hand, with eager glance. 
He reads it word by word, thinking, perchance. 
He may its meaning learn, digest the whole. 
And gain fresh knowledge for his venturing soul. 
Behold yon dear one, pouring o'er the page, 
Its dark expressions seemingly engage 
Her whole attention — foreign to her mind, 
That catalogue of filthy myst'ries bind 
Her tender heart, as it with int'rest warms, 
While Satan fills it with his spell-bound charms. 

If men persist, for sake of filthy gain. 
Dark age's habits labor to maintain. 
In publishing verbatim crimes just so, 
With language suited to the haunts of woe, 
Then watchmen cry aloud, lift up thy voice, 
Urge Christians on, to make a final choice 
'Twixt good and bad, those organs of our land, 
Which for the Christian or the Atheist stand, 
Mark w^ell the bound 'ry line, for on it rest 
Some sickly journals, turning into jest 



CAUSE AND CUEE. 43 

Religion- — churches — sermons— each in turn. 
Devoid of principle, their acts we spurn. 

Within our midst the sons of wealth we find, 
To single lives they ever seem resigned ; 
No work to do, no stimulant have they, 
To idleness and vice an easy prey ; 
Deficient knowledge, learning kept at bay. 
Ignorance and sloth leading still the way ; 
Their constant study, novels without end, 
Pernicious books of trash, which ever tend 
To ruin's course ; smoking to kill the time. 
Chewing — disgusting habit, almost crime. 
With splendor deck'd you see their carriage roll, 
Between their team a silver-mounted pole ; 
Cuts through the bracing air each dashing steed, 
Bounds o'er the ground with locomotive speed , 
Hotels instead of homes prefer to use. 
Retiring life can't meet their shorten'd views 
Of life's great end, hence uncurb'd passions rage 
With unabated force, at every stage 
Of fleeting life, increasing in their power, 
'Till reach'd their climax is, that passing hour, 
From short probation to the changeless rounds 
Of that eternity which knows no bounds. 

Another class of dandies throng our way. 
Minus the dazzling carriage, dress as gay, 
For pole adopt a silver-headed cane. 



44 SOCIAL EVILS : 

And drive their limbs for steeds with flowing mane ; 
Attired in fabrics rare of newest style, 
You find these gents of fashion all the while, 
With flippant tongue they deal their lying clack, 
For all their boasted wealth lies on their back. 
Extravagance first order of the day. 
Enormous cost of every rich display. 
Unmarried leave these fops, who can't maintain 
A wife of fashion, and their caste retain ; 
Too poor to Aved, how innocent they speak ! 
And yet what modest interviews they seek 
With certain fav'rite dames, beneath the shade 
Of hell's own blackness, where the harlots play'd. 

The sainted Bunyan's memorable fair, 

Can't with our modern vanities compare. 

O could some Witch of En dor raise to life. 

His Pilgrims rare who battled in the strife 

Of vile contending parties, 'gainst the tide 

Of foaming evil ebbing far and wide. 

More shock'd would Christian be than Samuel's witch, 

(Whose terror trembled to a ghastly pitch,) 

Were he to stand with Faithful side by side, 

And in our fair of vanitv abide, 

ml 7 

Should glance all 'round with penetrating ken. 
From purchasing the sordid trash refrain — 
As he was wont to do in times that's past. 
How should he stand with pallid looks aghast, 
While rude spectators mock his shabby dress, 



CAUSE AND CURE. . 45 

And " Byends " many give a feigned caress. 

Ah ! tell me not there's loit'ring in that fair 

Professing Christians, buying lighter ware 

Than Heathens did, in Pilgrims darkest days, 

In earliest glim'rings of the Gospel blaze. 

Should those eccentric saints our temples view, 

Each worshipper perceive, from pew to pew, 

Light folly's dress should fill their hearts with gloom, 

And send them weeping to their honored tomb. 

Similitude of scenes, 'neath friendship's shrine. 

Where kindred souls regenerate, combine 

To cast the animated glow of truth 

Around both pensive and the listless youth ; 

Appear in sociables, where smiling hours 

Are spent within the church's pleasure bow'rs ; 

Half-naked busts, display of modest wealth, 

Such careless folly cheats the waning health, 

Like some nonentity, while pleasure flies. 

The poor man meets no flatt'ring courtesies. 

Nor is the native song unheard around 

Within this consecrated, holy ground— 

The house of God, where His Shechinah dwells, 

A promenade for forward, flirting belles ; 

Not songs of Zion from the circle rise, 

Not v^^arblings of the moonless Paradise, 

Not to the great Creator's worthy praise, 

But to some ideal beauty tune their lays — 

" Brown-eyed Kate " or a " Blue-eyed little Nell," 

Receive their homage on the ev'ning gale. 



46 SOCIAL evils: 

Ah ! by-gone days, that glimmer in the past, 
So faint, yet real, riding on the blast 
Of "wild'ring ages, through life's stormy track, 
Recalling scenes that were, away far back 
In error's twilight hour, when Christians slept, 
And heresies in ancient temples crept ; 
Lone virtue whisper'd in that cloudy day. 
Unheard, unpitied, pallid cheek'd she lay, 
Down-trodden, crush'd to earth by vanity. 
Sole mistress of the world, unrivall'd she ; 
Dear forms that nurs'd her in those feeble days. 
Who fan'd the smould'ring embers to a blaze. 
That once again the banner bright unfurl'd 
And stood the tortures of a frowning world ; 
Sweet reformation, virtue's friend in need, 
Her rescue hast'ning with electric speed, 
Appear'd in dark alternate ages past, 
To sound o'er earth the Gospel trumpet's blast ; 
And now, forsooth, though century has sped 
From time, to sojourn with its breathless dead, 
Since ghastly pale the last reformer stood. 
And with the ken of truth the Avorld review'd. 
Our churches apprehend no need of light, 
Or chart to guide, reform to speed their flight, 
They want not holiness with all its glow — 
The Christian's test a hundred years ago. 

With pausing steps and pensive thoughts, perchance, 
We soon may find a momentary trance, 



CAUSE AND CURE. 4Y 

When springing up before the startled eye, 

Dear virtue heaves her languid, choaking sigh — 

Deep-seated groan, wrench'd from her palKd lips, 

By vanity's red hand, that ever strips 

The snow-white garments from her angel form — 

Sweet, meek, retiring dove, from ev'ry storm. 

O, teeming millions, floating on life's wave, 

To long eternity beyond the grave. 

On you I call, let reason fill the soul. 

Give all thy highest powers full control. 

With single eye the equal balance view, 

Give prejudice no part at all to do. 

The problem solve, account for social crimes 

That like a deluge foam, in these our times, 

As in the day when clearest wisdom sigh'd 

In Solomon, at wasting eventide 

Of his eventful life, when peace return'd, 

Still vanity has rule and virtue spurn'd. 

This monster evil must be crush'd, or soon 
Naught else but whoredom shall our hearts attune ; 
Say, then, shall inquisitions crush it out ? 
The measure's strong, but its success we doubt. 
Th' excess of action cannot conquest gain. 
Each deadly bullet cuts the air in vain 
Except the far-off mark their eye may scan, 
Which when discovered, ceases to be man. * 

'Tis women all Avho fabricate the charge — 
Yea, on the myth or fiction's theme enlarge, 



48 SOCIAL EVILS : 

Unmindful of the fact, like magnet's power, 
Their vanity attracts the paramom\ 
To keep the eyes from vanity's domain 
Compels a man to close them fast again ; 
Yea, tightly press the eyelids, for one ray 
Of sunny light must with itself display 
The crowding vanities, scarce room t' appear 
In forms distinct, corrupting front and rear ; 
Lost in the maze, as fancy's airy wings 
Tir'd of the weary flight, cease flutterings ; 
The bold adventurer who meant to sound 
The depths and heights of vanities around. 
Sink calmly down, as mortals ever did, 
Defeated, stifled, spite their lightning speed. 

If joy could glimmer in th' abodes of hell, 

There came a day when satisfaction's yell 

Rang merrily around each fiery arch. 

As in the distance gleam'd the Christian's march, 

To hellward bound, with vanity's gay smile 

In crinoline adorned — the Devil's wile, 

His last great patent snare, which if should take, 

He deem'd would merge in whoredom's deadly lake 

The whole creation's teeming millions proud. 

Which when adrift th' avenging God should shroud 

In everlasting sheets of liquid flame. 

The haunts of wickedness, remorse and shame, 

Transmitted first to every whorish belle, 

Design infernal, dark machines of hell, 



CAUSE AND CURE, 49 

Damnation's nursling, hatched by devils damned, 
With batteries of fire eternal jam'd. 

Seduced! that solitary word we hear 
Too frequent ring within th' attentive ear. 
But while we brand and blacken — justly, too, — 
The vile seducer, fail to keep in view ; 
The foot'ring friends of lust by women nurs'd. 
Whetting the appetite, creating thirst 
Within the youth, the middle-aged, the gray — 
Hence their own influence opes the deadly way ! 
How sad a sight when virtue does appear 
In wide-extending hoops — the rabble's sneer, 
Resounding, as the cold autumnal air 
With ruthless blast leaves ankle regions bare ! 
What. special care is lavished on the lace, 
Or ruffling fine, not for the smiling face 
But underclothes procured, of inmost use, 
Which if exposed serve only to amuse 
Hell's active agents, ever on th' alert, 
With straining eyes and demon skill expert; 
For other's eyes no pains she seems to spare 
In choosing this with studied, anxious care^ 
Not for her own, she sees it not when worn, 
A fixed, deliberate purchase to adorn 
Her inner garments, for inspection meant, 
Hell's fav'rite patent to attract the gent. 
4 



50 SOCIAL EVILS : 

Nor was this parent scheme unfruitful long, 
-Her offspring numerous joined in her song 
Of wild, immodest lewdness, hollow flowed 
Their empty voices, clamoring aloud 
In stained creation's territory vast, 
Almost exceeding in the long, long j)ast. 
Red whoredom's large numerical amount 
Of wholesale raids, from ev'ry stagnant fount 
Of deep corruption; on the savage world. 
Half-civilized, no banner then unfurl'd 
Of Gospel news or freedom's joyous note, 
Which now-a-days on zephyr's breezes float. 
We tarry not o'er calves of limbs or kine. 
Deception's essence with the former chime, 
Meant to be well exposed, no other use ; 
Acts ornamental pure, and must amuse 
(Ironically, too,) the silly man 
Who 'fore his marriage with her failed to scan 
The patent bogus, mean disclosure late. 
That upward burst when destined to his fate. 

Conjecture only, 'tis when we assume 

That such is sin, the wearing from the tomb 

Of human hair ; let freedom have her course, 

Convince her by disgust, no other force 

Of argument will tend to ope her eyes, 

But truth's own flash shall shine without disguise. 



CAUSE AND CUKE. 51 

As fades the bloom of nature from the cheeks, 
A substitution for its presence seeks 
The cheated lady, whose bewild'^iig fate 
Dead silence keeps, nor dares the change relate ; 
Hence many a half-forgotten, murmuring maid, 
Has, brow-bent, mutter'd sentences of dread 
When to her face the rouge she introduced, 
Lest certain folks should know, and feel amus'd ; 
Poor, silly thousands, shriveling as a scroll. 
True mimic of a ghost or powder'd fowl. 

And more there are who paint the " bloom of youth 

On withering, pallid cheeks, assured, forsooth, 

This fraud on nature none essay to trace ; 

No gent so impolite, so startling base ! 

Wake up! 'midst recollection's dim return. 

Thou slave of sin, o'er keen conviction mourn ! 

Thine is the whore's receipt, her, trading sign, 

Foul tint of wickedness, the blood-red line, 

With which her loathsome suppliants are caught, 

And hauled to orgies with damnation fraught ! | 

What wonder, then, should libertines pursue 

Thy every walk, and dog thy footsteps, too ? 

The fallen woman's dirty red you wear, 

Yet still surprised you seem that men will stare 

Thy artificial glow, address thy ear 

With language lewd, the inuendo jeer; 

Ah, silly woman ! common sense will tell 

'Tis thy desert, for painting leads to hell. 



52 SOCIAL EVILS : 

'Twere well if common manners were a part, 
Or branch of education, to impart 
Polite demeanor to the tender sex, 
Who in this part unWi^red, tend to vex 
By habits mean, the friends of courtesy, 
Who with their harlot habits can't agree. 
Chewing ladies ! from early morn till night. 
Such chewing is the most disgusting sight 
To men of sense, whose intellects are clear, 
That ever wrench'd from man the cutting sneer 
At innocence outraged by harlot's gum — 
Embryo villainies, stagnated scum ! 
Not less disgusting are the men who chew 
Their noxious weed, with drib'ling spittle, too! 

We fail to trace frivolities caress'd, 

Their wanton power seems cradled in a rest 

Profoundly deep, lull'd in a demon's arms. 

With cov'rings thick of stupefying charms. 

That none can sound, no, not the Prince of Hell, 

Their origin or final course can tell. 

'Tis true that millions in their early youth, 

Have sometimes felt the keen-edged lance of truth 

Strike at their vitals fierce, extorting fear. 

The wild, lewd laugh became the mourner's tear 

'Neath faithful sermoHS, such as Paul would preach. 

Whose eloquence divine, refused to reach 

Beyond his own old fav'rite theme — the Cross — 

All other glory counted dung or dross. 



CAUSE AND CUKE. 63 

Those modern sermons, popular to-day, 

Half politics, I ween, half self-display, 

But feed the worm that at each vital gnaws, 

Of Christianity's neglected cause. 

We want not life recitals of the past 

Great campaigns, with their cold attendant blast 

Of dire destruction, sounding in our ears 

Like some old Spanish air of hoary years ; 

We want the Apostolic tongue of fire, 

No circling gloom, but ardent, strong desire 

Within pure, hallow'd breasts of holy men. 

The bold antagonists of hell and sin — 

Men who shall rouse the dormant conscience rude 

From loit'ring folly to lone solitude, 

Where startling, pauses o'er the faithless past. 

With introverted looks appear aghast. 

Extorting shrieks for aid to quell the dread. 

That racks the brain 'neath th' Almighty's tread. 

Not Pastors blind, who treat the Sabbath day 

As recreation's friend, mere holiday 

For vain amusement, or aught else you choose. 

To make subservient to your carnal views, 

Disseminating poison in the heart, 

A traitor Christian's, not a patriot's part. 

Not Ministers, who carelessness create 
By preaching unconditional fixed fate, 
Existing down through vast eternity. 



54 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Th' extreme prerogative, man's destiny, 
A dire decree, of some the changeless doom 
That damns the infant from its mother's womb. 



Not Preachers mean, whose blind ambition's lent 
To blasphemy's strange work, with what intent 
It matters not. If good, the brain's diseas'd ; 
If bad, how can God's anger be appeas'd, 
As o'er his head the liery whirlwinds strive. 
Destruction's grave yawn's widely ; thunders drive 
The frighten'd horrors headlong, urged to grind 
The venomed reptile, whose remorseless mind 
With Satan dallies, sipping liquid fire, 
Officiating 'neath the temple's spire ; 
Whose luckless aim admiring devils scan. 
Those efforts vain to prove Christ only man^ — 
Th' Eternal Son, One person of the Three, 
Existing God from all eternity. 

Not Teachers, smiling o'er the abyss of hell. 
Duration, fire, undying worm and wail. 
To them a myth, imaginary scenes. 
Figurative, imreal, that ever means 
A suff 'ring less intense. Ah ! foreign hope, 
The skeleton of some moon-crazy dupe, 
Whose human wisdom foists the written word. 
And contradicts with scorn, th' Eternal Lord ; 
Tea, fondly dreams of mercy's final sway, 
O'er ling'ring justice on some distant day, 



CAUSE AND CUKE. 55 

His penance can no mitigation claim, 
'Tis fancy all, the purgatorial flame. 
If once the soul is lost, 'tis lost for aye. 
Damnation's dungeon hails no glim'ring ray 
Of budding hopes, inside its sulphur walls 
Naught but the voice of black despair, that galls 
The shrieking soul, descends with taunting sneer 
To mock aloud, the hopeless destined tear 
Wrung out by writhing torture's endless pain, 
Red whoredom's wages and affrighted gain ! 

Not so with virtue, her diviner strain 
Sweet melodies create, yon Heav'n her gain ; 
Resplendent glories bursting on her eyes. 
Through op'ning vistas, shedding as they rise 
Ethereal beauty, mellow floods of light. 
The rapturous visions of a dimless sight; 
Such noble virtue shunning impure air, 
The atmosphere of flirting's wanton stare 
We hail with gentle wooing's magic spell, 
Like sentinels we watch her stainless dell 
And snow-white form, her shy, accustom'd tread 
Through life's rough paths, v/ith mingled hopes and 
dread. 

Such was the virtue pure possessed that maid, 
Dear Flora Hastings, 'neath the fatal shade 
Of vicious slander, cold concocted lies, 
'Neath imputations false she pines and dies. 



56 SOCIAL evils: 

But e'er the final pulse-beat ends the strife. 

Her quiv'ring lips request the testing knife, 

To vindicate her innocence abused, 

And leave her treacherous sland'rous death confus'd. 

Ah ! pity wept aloud for England's Queen, 

Who freely mingled in that tragic scene ; 

That heartless deed Victoria's court shall stain 

While e'er a British King shall rule maintain. 

Experience universal prove that few 

Adults and hardier folk will e'er pursue 

A moralizing course in after days, 

If sexual intercourse their life portrays 

In the dark past, and horror in its frown, 

They seldom win a merited renown — 

Chaste virtue's due — hence females well as males 

Sweet reformation's task, too frequent pales. 

When shall this wonder-working siege begin — 

The long, eternal war 'gainst henious sin 

Of this peculiar grade, so tempting, too. 

That unmask'd dares the sons of God to woo ? 

Truth answers from yon pinnacle enthroned, 

"Where climbing virtue is forever crown'd, 

And list'ning to her accents soft, that fall 

Like murm'ring music's strains, which sweetly call 

To listless mothers through th' expansive earth. 

Who train their offspring to soul-with'ring mirth. 

To warp the young id^s tender bud. 



CAUSE AND CUEE. 5? 

And give each shoot a vitiating mood — 
We catch the plaintive whispers from afar, 
With lightening speed, truth's own undaunted car, 
With charges laden, messages from God 
Fly swiftly past, nor slights the gay abode 
Of thoughtless mothers, tracing to their doors 
Cause and effect of libertines and whores ! 

Scarce time for reason to begin its march 
When vice-clad vanity's bespangled arch 
Arrests the eye, unfolding gaudy hues. 
Which soon attract, yet only to amuse 
The artless child, till folly's weeds spring up, 
'Tis then eternity's embitter'd cnp 
Sips its first dreg, right from the fost'ring hands 
Of virtue-stunting mothers, from whose wands 
Most vices spring, their fost-ring parent pride 
Propelling Devil-like the blood-red tide — 
Amalgamation's pool, through heart and tongue. 
Great medium they, to reach th' unwary young. 

Th' expensive dress, extravagant attire. 
Which ever did and shall create desire ; 
The longing wish, the restless, craving thought. 
Ambiguous pride, with frenzied stupor fraught. 
Is not withheld from children, whose stern gaze 
On their own suits, invokes th' inspector's praise. 
Nor does this wrong abate through lapse of time, 
For increased days serve only to entwine 



58 SOCIAL EVILS : 

The love of dress, unsparingly bestow'd 
Around their dying hearts, the lov'd abode 
Of sweetest innocence, where once she dwelt, 
E'er came her rival, that accursed wealth. 

As restless youth speeds on thro' girlhood's years, 

With her attendant airs, the wanton sneers 

Of pamper'd vanity's wild haughty gaze, 

From Lucifer's own scornful vassal chaise, 

The thirst insatiable, without allay. 

For newest fabrics, means of self-display. 

No rest affords, no pity seems to know. 

Its lambent flames ignited down below 

By silly mothers, set the soul on fire. 

Consuming quickly every good desire. 

When sixteen years or less have mark'd the strife 

'Twixt good and evil, through th' eventful life 

Of those misguided daughters, lo ! we find 

Them flirting belles, and restless as the wind; 

Each one in statu quo, a prim coquette 

With pressing suitors gallantly beset. 

Better far 'twould be — nature thinks so, too — 
The hill of knowledge climbing, and pursue 
The harmless plays of girlish innocence. 
With kindred playmates, blest with common sense. 

While standing on life's silver-tinted beach. 
Conclusions strange with truth's own seal must reach 



CAUSE AND CURE. 59 

The unwarp'd judgment, when the bubble wealth 

Has burst, and rude reverses took by stealth 

Remaimng riches, leaving side by side 

Want's pinching grasp and irritating pride, 

To taunt their victims, merciless and rude, 

While standing on the verge of womanhood ; 

With minds unbalanced by religion's pow'r. 

They stand aghast on fashion^s shatter'd tow'r. 

Lone solitude ! their mute adviser flings 

Their echoes back on howling zephyr's wings 

The mocking answers to appeals for aid, 

To deck their persons for life's promenade ; 

Athwart the brain the frantic thought, unseen, 

Re-passes madly, insolent and keen — 

That thought on dress to which their tastes were train'd 

By luckless mothers, vain and crazy brain'd. 

They dare not stoop to e^rn their daily bread, 

Luxurious living in the past outsped 

Such mean employ — fit only for the slave ; 

To them to work is shame— 'tis death — the grave. 

The curse of Heav'n must rest upon that pride 
Which chokes in youth life's crystal flowing tide — 
Primeval current, with its silv'ry spray. 
Reflecting back pure virtue's gladsome ray— 
Th' iron purpose, indomitable will, 
Which finest feelings of the heart congeal 
To adamantine substance, dare not bend 
Low down to mean economy, or wend 



60 SOCIAL EYILS: 

Their headlong way, with true repentance key, 
To ope the door of sweet humility. 
Once rich, now poor, they send a mournful gleam 
Through rude privation's hours, which ever seem 
The ban of discontent, the vengeful smile, 
Curst offering of some peevish, lurking wile, 
^Neath fortune's frown, with pallid hopes aghast, 
To shiver in reversion's chilling blast. 
Unseen, unwept, is more than pride will do. 
That rules the heart and guides the judgment, too; 
Her pleas succeed, urged by their wonted stress. 
To barter virtue for the harlot's dress ! 

Ah, shameless girls ! becoming in that maze 
The secret mistresses of rich roues j 
Within thy souls the same coiled serpents grow 
Which spit their venom in each bagnio ! 

O, wreckless mothers, trifling on the brink 

Of endless fate unmov'd, awhile bethink 

What thou'rt doing ; pause o'er thy course full well, 

Behold thy children drifting dov^n to hell — 

Their sails, thy purchase, fabrics rich and rare ; 

Their gales, light vanity ; their end, despair ! 

There is a spirit in the lonely heart. 
Away far down below where follies start. 
And slumb'ring in deep solitude's domain. 
Chaotic regions, speak not to the brain — 



CAUSE AND CUKE. 61 

Great medium of the soul— except it rise 
Through certain tamp'riug with the ears and eyes. 
It rose, musician of young Ammon's brain. 
Each nerve it touch'd produced a jarring strain, 
Sensations thrilling reach'd his yielding frame, 
This Devil-agent spirit flung his name 
To all posterity, through coming time, 
The perpetrator of a coward's crime. 
So heinous that to dare its scenes t' unfold 
Should sicken nature, and the blood run cold ! 
'Twas roused in Potipher's audacious wife, 
That dormant passion woke which curst her life. 

Those vaults of deep corruption, beer saloons, 
That each vibrating chord of vice attunes, 
Where the drunk gamester throws the midnight die 
And swooning virtue heaves her farewell sigh, 
Are the faint miniatures of hellish fate. 
Which tragic passions in the soul create, 
Where impious men, and even youths, are found 
Blaspheming nightly, cheer'd by helPs resound. 

Lo, there within those cells where follies vie, 

Th' attentive ear and penetrating eye 

Still find their lov'd employ, together bound 

In deep discourse on special scenes around, 

And as a medium, they that spirit wake 

Which flut'ring in the heart numb'd passions shake 

To swift flagration, with a despot's might, 

When flaming rage o'erleaps its bounded height. 



62 SOCIAL evils: 

These are not all the dark, infernal schools, 

Which curse our land and train their pupils fools. 

From 'mongst the countless numbers we select, 

That universal evil, which infect 

Humanity's best morals, and dispense 

More moral poison, efforts more intense 

Than any other, to dethrone what's pure, 

To folly's ground the unwary soul allure. 

Ah, Theatres ! where sin's great ocean rolls, 

Baptismal font of eager plunging souls. 

Where nothing enters save the impure thought 

And low desire w^hich darker deeds have wrought, 

Well may we style them, and without surprise. 

Damned Devil temples, where black worship rise 

To their lov'd father, whose dark works they do, 

His willing progeny, who mirth pursue. 

There in those halls where hollow laughter flows. 

And little devils find a snug repose 

Soft pillow'd down in every list'ning soul, 

Where kindling passions sway usurped control. 

No one exempted there, all are his thralls 

Who pleasure seek within those gaudy walls ; 

Aye ! Christians, too, spite of their self-defence. 

Must shed the bitter tears of penitence 

To gain their former peace, if once they go 

To those huge depots where they're book'd for woe ! 

And can it be that modest females crowd 
Those halls of sin, and nightly laugh aloud 



CAUSE AND CURE. 63 

At shocking sights, revolting to the eyes, 

Without a blush or horror-struck surprise ? 

Modest, did I say ? — ah, frail, dying word ! 

Unknown, unfelt, to deep oblivion lower'd 

By virgin hands, when virtue's voice grew weak, 

And fled those blushes were that flash'd the cheek ; 

The filmy, partial dress, the mock attire 

Displayed by specialists, whose costume fire 

The palpitating passions, and wide throws 

The crowded gate, broad entrance to our woes ! 

'Tis even so that mothers do appear 

With their own children in that atmosphere 

Of hot, sulphuric perfumes, where each thought 

Must doubtless be of lust's own essence wrought. 

Which when develop'd gives the soul unrest. 

And plants a living hell within the breast ; 

A hell which burns out every good desire. 

And gives its dupes a wish to see their sire, 

Hence vile ima^nation's baited hook 

Hauls up the devil with his famed " Black Crook !" 

Th' hurrying souls who never go aslant, 

But headlong down to deep destruction's font 

Immersion in the liquid flames they seek, 

If patent actions may be said to speak ; 

The peevish restlessness which irritates 

Those frenzied souls, perdition's potentates 

Drive dark invention to its utmost bounds 

Through earth and hell, and distant planet's rounds. 



64 SOCIAL evils: 

In search of what ? Ah ! let the sph-its lost 
In Hades' spheres, by howling whirlwinds toss'd, 
Shriek out o'er hark'ning lands and listening seas, 
On ev'ry mournful gale and sighing breeze, 
Th' intent and purpose of this human raid 
Through grim Gehenna's drear and dismal shade, 
Where subject to th' infernal powers that be, 
They made their vile •• Black Crook " discovery ! 

Gay mothers mingling in th' assembled crowd. 
Enraged with conscience, speaking oft and loud 
Within the soul's deep solitude, where fears 
Like low'ring clouds o'erhang their future years, 
Not only stand in sinners dang'rous way. 
But lead the young immortal souls astray. 

Eternity's slow-thinking candidate ! 

On thy own acts depend thy timeless fate ; 

Though bending mercy o'er thy wand'rings weep, 

Both day and night untiring vigils keep. 

The day will come when in the balance weigh'd 

Thy every deed shall be since first yon stray'd, 

O'er error's mountains, with that keen remorse, 

(Dread warning !) offspring of th' impending curse, 

Probationer of time, loose Christian thou. 
Foundation of thy faith is sand, I trow ; 
From sinners sep'rate, ah ! that Bible phrase, 
No glad amens within thy bosom raise ; 



CAUSE AND CURE. 65 

With unconcern you swell th' unholy throng, 
And spell-bound mingle in the midnight song. 
If Christian thou wilt be, instead of fool, 
This vital act must be your golden rule : 
Engage in nothing, either small or great, 
In which you can't before the mercy seat. 
On bended knees, free from a traitor's guile, 
Entreat thereon Jehovah's pleasing smile. 
Say, Christian, wilt thou dare thine eyes to lift 
To Heav'n's pure God, while sinking down adrift 
T' amuse thy fancy, where His rebels dwell, 
Those theatres pack'd with the brood of hell ? 
Rich hot-beds of the social evils they, 
And nursery of whoredom's stagnant spray ; 
But not the deepest of the social gloom 
That drapes the harlot's just dishonor'd tomb, 
The married prostitutes, aye ! murd'rers, too, 
Cold-blooded, cruel infanticides, who strew 
With dwarfish skeletons their tophet homes. 
Where hell's fomented sea of evil foams, 
Outspeeds all public harlots whose base shame 
Precipitates them in the quenchless flame. 

How grating on the haughty madam's ear 
That soft word, Mother !— what an impish sneerj 
With curling lip, escapes her demon face, 
As some young darling, with a modest grace 
Calls out, " Mama !" with sweet affection's bliss^ 
And smiles to win a mother's soothing kiss. 
5 



66 SOCIAL evils: 

She mother of an urchin ! hapless wretch — 

Not so ; while freedom's conscience still may stretch 

By th' unfetter'd will, that never bends 

To virtue's claims, but intermingling blends 

With infamous pursuits ; on jilting wings 

While poising o'er damnation, gaily sings 

Of uncurb'd power, gladden'd at the sound 

Of prompting devils chattering around. 

What steely souls, unnatural and cruel. 

Which prompts the combat strange, unequal duel 

'Twixt mothers and their fragile babes unborn, 

Regardless of humiliating scorn. 

Sometimes a rushing thrill sweeps through each vein. 

Electric horror flashing to the brain. 

While cold sensations o'er the feelings creep, 

When headlong dash'd into some slimy deep 

By parent hands, her helpless, bastard child, 

In labyrinthic maze by friends exiled. 

How dark is murder's deed in any form, 
When passion uncontrol'd becomxes a storm 
Of frenzied hatred in its fiercest mood, 
Loud clamoring around for human blood, 
Suppressing life with necromantic spell ; 
Ah me ! who could the sick'ning process tell 
Which shapes itself in dire destructive power, 
A mother's action in that dreadful hour. 
This cold conspiracy 'gainst babes unborn 
Subjects the £?uiltv to contcmDtiious scorn. 



CAUSE AND CURE. 67 

Alas for nature ! clear from lier 'tis flown, 
Almost beyond control, the sweetest tone 
Commingling with the deepest, softest strains, 
Can't w^oo that nature to such harlot plains 
Where black, inhuman, hell-concocted pride, 
'Neath wedlock's shroud, propels the crimson'd tide! 

"'TIS oft we mark the early death in life, 

Of many a young and fascinating wife 

Laid low beneath the uninviting tomb — 

Ah, saddening thought ! that such should be the doom 

Of nature's boast ; their's were a lot unsought, 

Th' employ'd practitioner's strong drugs soon wrought 

Their hasty end, e'en 'midst life's gayful prime, 

Hence their own acts became a social crime ! 

Beyond the denser clouds first dawn appears 
Of that millenium morn, which ancient seers 
Beheld, with clear, prophetic eye undim'd, 
In days of eld, w^hen on their vision beam'd, 
With richest splendor, shedding floods of light, 
Celestial glory, ravishing the sight 
•Of gazing mortals, near time's tott'ring bounds, 
As loud hosannas rose with sweetest sounds, 
To yon high Heav'n's eternal throne, where gloom 
Ne'er poises o'er th' immortals, to entomb 
Joy's ecstacy ; or sin's approach turn pale 
Th' enraptur'd Host, who wocders at its tale. 



68 SOCIAL EVILS. 

Such are the scenes we hail, primeval bliss 
Of *^ Paradise Regained." No serpent's hiss 
Shall mar fair Eden's amaranthine bowers, 
While pure, aspiring Virtue meekly towers 
To her own spotless throne, perfection's bounds, 
To dwell secure through circling planet's rounds I 



